John Carman of Casey Co, KY & Hezekiah Carman of Caswell Co., VA
I am a descendant of the Hezekiah Carman that died in Caswell County in 1803.“Everyone knows” (it seems) that he married Elinor Talbott on 24 July 1763 in Baltimore County, MD. [Robert Barnes, “Maryland Marriages, 1634-1777,” p. 29.]
When Hezekiah died in 1803, his estate settlement proves that he had a son named John.This is the same John – I always thought – who moved to Casey County, KY in the early 1800s, dying there ca. 1856.In the 1850 Casey County census this John Carman was listed as 90 years old (so born ca. 1860).And he filed three applications for Rev. War pensions from there:
http://revwarapps.org/r1703.pdfhttp://revwarapps.org/r1703.pdf
In his first application, filed 16 May 1842, he stated he was 80 years old (so born ca. 1762).In his second application, filed 15 April 1851, he stated he was 90 years old (so born ca. 1761).In his third application, filed 27 April 1853, he stated he will be 91 years old if he lives until October 1853 (so born Oct. 1762).
In all cases he claimed he was born before his (supposed) parents were married!Obviously something is wrong.Does, or can, anyone offer a plausible, and supportable, explanation?
Was he wrong in all four claims?Was Hezekiah Carman of Caswell County someone different from the one that married Elinor Talbott in Baltimore County?Had Hezekiah Carman been previously married?Was John Carman of Casey County someone else’s son, and if so, whose?etc., etc...
Lou Poole, Richardson, TX